Pages

Sunday, 11 September 2016

What I Wore on Holiday: Day Wear

Today is the first part of my report on what I wore on my recent sunny holiday to Spain. This time I decided against doing individual outfit posts; I'd still be posting them as we head into October, and in the UK it will start to get a bit depressing posting pictures of sunshine and beachwear when the nights are getting dark and all other Northern hemisphere bloggers are in tights already. In this post I'm focusing on what I packed as day wear. I'll follow up with a post on evening wear, and maybe squeeze another post in about what an amazing place Nerja is (just because I have SO many photos of it looking all beautiful and sunny).

Around town/sightseeing
I took a pair of Warehouse navy blue shorts, a short blue skirt, and a red knee-length chiffon skirt. To mix and match with those bottoms, I packed an assortment of tops and shirts in cotton, linen and silk. I don't wear strappy tops or sundresses in the daytime in hot countries, as I need the sun protection. I did wear the Jaeger silk tunic again that I wore last year to visit the Alhambra in. It's earned its money that tunic!

Shirt by Heartbreaker, skirt Cynthia Rowley I think from TK Maxx.

Linen top from Laura Ashley (thrifted), same skirt as above

Shirt by Tokyo Laundry (thrifted), shorts by Warehouse (thrifted)

Broderie top by Primark (thrifted), skirt by Pretty Vacant (bought in a proper shop!). Animated expression due to Marilyn moment with a sudden draft!

Silk top from Monsoon, via Ebay

Beach wear
I took two bikinis. It's always handy to have one drying while you wear the other one. You've seen them both before, a white postcard print one from New Look and a pink paisley one by Pistol Panties. For beach cover ups, I took the long-sleeved white shirt I took last year. I also bought a bargain beach dress from the local French Connection outlet for just £9, reduced from something ridiculous like £70.

The bargain beach dress from French Connection

Simple ultra-light cotton white shirt from Gap (thrifted)

Bikini from New Look (a few years ago)

Accessories
This year's sun hat was a new charity shop purchase from our Portmeirion trip. It has a brim that can be folded in different ways, which was really handy (I totally went a bit St Trinian's one day with plaits too!). I took two pairs of sunglasses, the massive white ones, and the smaller pink ones. I also took two pairs of almost identical flat leather sandals with pretty flowers on, in different colours. Heels were wedges (cobbled streets); one tan leather, the other green, yellow and red.

My beach bag was an Elizabeth Hurley one, £2 from the charity shop. I also took the tooled leather shoulder bag I took last year. The final daytime accessory that was indispensable was the headscarf. I took three, but it was the plain red one I wore most. Note to self, to buy more in plain colours.

Turning the brim up all the way around for my St Trinian's look!

Sandals from La Redoute (this year)

Last year's La Redoute sandals

Reproduction Hollywood sandals, via Facebook group

I didn't wear all of my day tops. I had a yellow gingham top that had too much of a plunging neckline for daytime (I need to cover up in the sun!). Other tops I didn't wear included a red and white Hawaiian print sleeveless shirt, and a coral tie-waist short-sleeved shirt. Both I would have got around to I'm sure if our holiday had been longer, we were only there for a week. Oh, and there was a Banana Republic white top that I didn't wear, as even though it was cotton it was a bit thick for the hot, hot, hot weather.

What would I do differently next holiday?

Buy more supportive sandals for daytime. The flat sandals have no arch support and gave me achey feet after a while.

Take flip flops. I forgot, and had to use the older flat sandals on the beach, which was a faff.

Buy another beach cover up. I really loved that French Connection dress!

Take more headscarves in plain colours.

Buy (or make?) another pair of shorts in a plain colour. The ones I took got a bit grubby after a few days of spilling sunscreen on them and me sitting on dusty, sandy walls.

So there you go, that's what I wore in the daytime. Fairly successful I feel. I can't wait to share the evening wear with you (that's the exciting bit isn't it?). Bring on the dresses!

Special shout out to Not Dressed As Lamb, who I'm linking up with this week for their #iwillwearwhatilike tag!

14 comments:

I'd happily look at your lovely photos all year round, it would cheer me up no end when Winter strikes!I went to Nerja years ago, it was March, I think, gloriously hot in the day time and cold by night. We both loved it and would have no hesitation going back - especially after seeing your pictures!I love your French Connection dress, it looks wonderful on you. What a bargain. Both pairs of sandals are fab, the gingham top and white sunnies are fabulously 1950s looking and you look amazing in your bikini.Every year I say I'll take some more supportive sandals away with me, trawl the chazzas for a few months and then forget all about it. I've got my Birkenstocks now. No more achy legs, hopefully! xxx

My top tip for flat holiday sandals is to check out some of the cute ones Crocs - yes Crocs! - do! In fact, I wore mine to work the other day and my colleague complimented me on my shoes, and was then horrified/impressed to find out what they were :D anyway, a bunch of cute and comfy holiday looks here - I always try to minimise the amount of bottoms I have too. But then I also bring way too many tops to go with them! Love your beach dress - I've never yet found one I like and that fits but I live in hope! xx

So many great holiday outfits! I loveeee the French Connection dress, I want it!!! The first outfit is so classic too. Looks like a great holiday. I always overpack when I go on holiday or on a daily basis with my handbag ha.

All of these are such gorgeous outfits and so perfect for a summer holiday! I love all the gingham and love the floral sandals! Love your use of hats and head scarves too! <3 Looks like it was an amazing holiday! Looking forward to seeing the evening wear. :)

Terrific styles! I especially adore your cheerful floral adorned sandals (both pairs). Who wouldn't want to take a garden with them on their feet? (As I like to joke that my closet practically has its own groundskeeper thanks to all the florals it contains, I'd certainly rock a pair of them, too. :))

Really cute daytime looks! I love the gingham that you've mixed in here - there's definitely my ideal summer print. Everything here is just so cute and sweet, and I'm impressed with your apparent dedication to looking photo ready every day. That's a hard thing to do in a hot climate! I might have to see if I can find a pair of those Le Redoute sandals myself, I really like the little flowers.